Heart Failure is sometimes misdiagnosed as COPD

It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with COPD, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Heart Failure.

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle fails to pump blood efficiently causing blood to back up and fluid to build up in the lungs. Symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath with activity or lying down, swelling in the legs and feet, fatigue and weakness, rapid or irregular heartbeat, rapid weight gain, swelling of abdomen, persistent coughing or wheezing, difficulty concentrating and chest pain. Heart failure can be misdiagnosed as chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, anaemia, lymphedema, and transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.

Always consult your doctor or health professional, and do not self diagnose.

Symptoms can include:

Persistent cough or wheezing, shortness of breath with activity, chest pain, shortness of breath when lying down, fatigue and weakness, swelling in the legs and ankles and feet, rapid or irregular heartbeat, reduced ability to exercise, white or pink blood-tinged mucus, swelling of the abdomen, very rapid weight gain from fluid build-up, difficulty concentrating or decreased alertness, nausea and lack of appetite

Symptoms are a guideline only and may apply to either the diagnosis or the reported misdiagnosis, or both. Consult your specialist for further information.

Further reference:

www.mayoclinic.org

Click here to go to the A-Z list of diagnoses and misdiagnoses.